Public funding key for hosting WTA tennis: sponsor

By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

A long-time supporter of the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) Tournament of Champions in Taiwan said that funding from the government would be key to whether Taipei would host the tournament next year.

WTA managing director, Asia Pacific Peter Johnston said at a press conference in Taipei yesterday that the association is considering Taipei as a possible host of the tournament next year and beyond.

“First of all, it [Taipei] is a great city, and [hosting the tournament] is a chance to showcase the city by painting the picture of ‘Road to Taipei’ throughout the year. The city is also a great destination for tourists,” Johnston said.

Johnston said the WTA Tournament of Champions is the final event of the 32 international-level competitions the association holds each season. The top eight players of the association compete in the WTA Tour Championships. Those ranked from No. 9 to No. 16 compete in the Tournament of Champions, Johnston said.

Taipei is competing with five other cities in Europe, South America and the Middle East to host the Tournament of Champions from next year to 2017. The result is scheduled to be announced during the first quarter of the year.

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